Indonesian forest fire kills 7 hikers, injures 2 others

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Seven hikers died after being caught in a forest fire on Indonesia's main Java island, an official said Monday.

Two other hikers were severely injured in the fire Sunday on the slope of Lawu Mountain, said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency.

The victims were among more than a dozen hikers who were caught in the fire, which raced through the forest on the 3,265-meter (10,712-foot) mountain on the border between East and Central Java provinces.

Rescuers were still searching the area for any other possible victims, Nugroho said.

The fire was believed to be caused by a bonfire started by hikers.

Another hiking group of 13 senior high school students was evacuated safely, the Detik.com website reported. It said three women were among the dead.